Chapter 1

I turned and walked out of that farce of an engagement party.

But a hand clamped around my wrist hard enough to bruise.

Klaus had hurried after me, clearly irritated.

"Haven't you made enough of a scene?"

He lowered his voice, looking tired.

"I already said I'd marry you. The timing just isn't right. What's the big rush?"

I yanked my hand free. "What's the problem? I stepped aside so you and Linda could be together. Isn't that exactly what you wanted?"

I'd loved him for ten years, and now I was about to be forced to marry the next head of a Mafia family and enter a cage I could never escape.

My mother, Elena Rota, had suffered the same fate. One of Europe's most gifted designers, she should have had a brilliant, independent life.

Then she married my father, the cold, vicious Don Rota. His affairs and the cruelty of his mistresses drove her into such deep depression that she took her own life in front of me.

I swore I would never end up like her.

I used to think Klaus was different from my father.

But now he was saying I was making a scene just to force him into marriage!

My cold response set off the anger he'd been holding back.

"I'm the one who kissed her. Linda had nothing to do with it!

"Why are you going after her? You're the one who brought her into the company. If you humiliate her in public like this, what are people going to think of her?

"You won't be happy until you've ruined her life, will you?"

I let out a cold laugh.

I'm going after her?

I'm ruining her?

I'd inherited both my parents' talent and built the luxury label Engrid from scratch. I had grown it to ten stores and turned Klaus, once penniless, into one of Paris's most sought-after fashion CEOs.

But once I'd helped him reach the top, he no longer wanted an equal. He wanted someone weaker, someone who would worship him.

So who's ruining whom?

I shoved him away and tried to leave, but he grabbed me again.

"Rebecca, I never said I wouldn't marry you.

"We squeezed into cheap apartments, lived on clearance groceries, and pulled more all-nighters than I can count. I remember all of it.

"I'm just asking you to give me some room to breathe."

He sighed, as if I were the one at fault.

"Is that why you kissed Linda and fast-tracked her into the design director role?" I was so angry I laughed.

Klaus frowned and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, my phone rang.

It was my father.

"I hear the engagement fell apart?"

I paused for a few seconds. "Yes, Father."

"I'll send someone to bring you back to New York."

"No need. I can get there myself." The line went dead.

Klaus had overheard the call and tensed. "You didn't have to tell your father right now!"

Then when?

After my father watches you exchange vows with another woman?

I wanted so badly to ask.

But looking at his angry, defensive face, I suddenly didn't have the strength to fight.

I was leaving anyway. There was no point exhausting myself arguing over who was right.

"Yes. You're right." My voice was flat, my face still. "There won't be anything else to tell him."